the big little migration
November 2, 2020 6:19 PM   Subscribe

Have you ever wondered what British Columbian tadpoles do all day? For the three million of them living in one remote Vancouver Island lake, the first challenge is the morning commute. Each day, they make a daring round trip journey, congregating in dense swarms to migrate from the deeper parts of the lake to their shallow feeding grounds and back again. Those who survive the hungry leeches and other hazards will eventually lose their baby tails and make their own way as full-grown toads. Diver-filmmaker Maxwell Hohn took a break from his scuba gear for this unusually shallow challenge: Documenting the unexpectedly lovely journey of the western toad tadpole.
posted by cnidaria (13 comments total) 25 users marked this as a favorite
 
squee!

This is really well done.

Minor CW for predation, though.
posted by scruss at 6:46 PM on November 2, 2020


This is great!
posted by Dip Flash at 7:56 PM on November 2, 2020


very charming!
posted by Pastor of Muppets at 7:57 PM on November 2, 2020


Wow beautiful photography. I wonder how he was able to get such great lighting in such clear water. Also, it is much more dramatic to watch it to the Tree of Life trailer.
posted by geoff. at 8:02 PM on November 2, 2020 [2 favorites]


Beautiful!

(Also, I couldn’t help but think of Kif Kroker and the sacred birthing grounds.)
posted by darkstar at 9:44 PM on November 2, 2020 [3 favorites]


amazing, beautiful. thank you for sharing
posted by greenhornet at 10:59 PM on November 2, 2020


Toadlets ❤️
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:16 AM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]


Saving this to send to my niece who is eight, lives in BC, and loves aquatic animals.
posted by jacquilynne at 5:35 AM on November 3, 2020 [1 favorite]


Beautiful. Thanks.
posted by SoberHighland at 6:13 AM on November 3, 2020


So wonderful - and so beautifully photographed.
posted by leslies at 8:12 AM on November 3, 2020


Watching the shots looking up at tadpoles flying (well, swimming) overhead, I can't help but think of the Woffs migrating in the Hilda stories.
posted by cnidaria at 10:39 AM on November 3, 2020 [2 favorites]


I wonder how many years, decades, centuries (?) these little guys have been doing this. There’s so much life at our feet that we never see until an explorer like Maxwell Hohn shows us. Thanks for the toad’s eye view!

More about the Western Toad at BC’s South Coast Conservation Program.
posted by cenoxo at 7:12 AM on November 14, 2020


Loads of Toads! Western Toads near Lillooet, BC (YT) — overland migration of thousands of young adult Western Toads.
posted by cenoxo at 7:51 AM on November 14, 2020


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